Kwara PDP, APC clash over secretariat

There was tension in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday, when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) engaged in a clash.
Members of the PDP caretaker committee planned to hold their inaugural meeting at the secretariat of the defunct nPDP, but the APC members would not allow it.

This happened barely 24 hours after the state command banned political rallies.
The secretariat, located on Nupe Road, has been a subject of controversy between the old PDP and ex-nPDP members shortly after the latter’s merger with the APC.

The ownership of the secretariat complex is now a subject of litigation in the court.
Both APC and PDP supporters converged on the Community Mess and Kingstone Hotel ends of Nupe Road at 9am. Scores of regular and riot policemen barricaded both entrances.


It was said some members of the PDP committee got clearance to take possession of the secretariat.
Sources said some PDP members, who claimed to be ‘stakeholders’, were secretly allowed entry by the police.

Both supporters eventually entered the premises but were prevented from entering the complex.
Attempts by the PDP members to hoist PDP flag were resisted by the APC supporters.
Commissioner of Police Agboola Oshodi-Glover later arrived at the scene.

An APC chieftain, Yemi Afolayan, said the PDP’s action was lawless and a disregard to the rule of law.
Afolayan, a former PDP secretary, said: “Yesterday, the PDP in Kwara State made another futile attempt to take over our property at the GRA in Ilorin.

“This should not have come as a surprise because the party has become a haven of lawlessness with flagrant disregard to the rule of law.

“Kwara has known political peace and harmony and we appeal to our people not to allow a few disgruntled political elements take advantage of this peace.”

A member of the PDP caretaker committee, Rex Olawoye, said: “As you have seen today we had our inaugural meeting and we decided at that meeting that we should occupy our secretariat.

“We know that some of our members have migrated to another party but those left feel we should coordinate and see how we can put ourselves together to face any election and the first step is to have a place to interact and plan.

“So we decided to have an inroad into our secretariat, more so we know that when you belong to a particular party and you decide to remove your membership of that party I don’t think that entitles you to holding on to the secretariat of that party.”

 THE NATION